Least-cost approaches towards reconstructing pre-hispanic trade routes in the eastern andes of Ecuador
Abstract
In the eastern Andes, archaeologists and ethnohistorians have found evidence of pre-Hispanic long-distance trade. This study attempts to reconstruct the corresponding trade routes of the Quijos people in Ecuador by using least-cost approaches. In the study region, a long continuity of the main routes is likely. Historical travel accounts, two old maps, archaeological data and four short old footpath sections provide insights into past mobility patterns. Different least-cost path ( LCP ) approaches were tested to reconstruct the routes based on the old maps. The LCP s form narrow corridors in the north of the study area, but no obvious best paths could be found in the less steep southern landscape. This is explored by an accessibility map and a map of high local accessibility. The latter allows the identification of preferred movement corridors in areas of low variation in accessibility.
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- Authors
- Herzog, I., & Yépez Noboa, A. M.
- Affiliations
- Head of Scientific IT, LVR-State Service for Archaeological Heritage Bonn Germany
- Professor of Archaeology, Grupo de Estudios del Paisaje Antiguo, Universidad Católica del Ecuador Quito Ecuador
- Venue
- Acta Archaeologica
- Publisher
- Walter de Gruyter GmbH
- Published
- 2025-10-28
- Volume
- 95
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 210-231
- ISSN
- 0065-101X (ISSN-L)
- 1600-0390
- OpenAlex
- W4416458833
- Cited by
- 1
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1
- FWCI
- 1.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Acta Archaeologica (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Archaeological Research and Protection
- Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Amazonian Archaeology and Ethnohistory
- Keywords
- long-distance trade, eastern Andes, least-cost path analysis, historical travel accounts, historical maps, footpaths, movement patterns, accessibility (transport and spatial geography), movement corridors, landscape archaeology
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